Do you know where you’re going to?
A Billboard #1 hit by Dianna Ross back in 1976, the lyrics are applicable today as ever even for a business. In business planning now days we call it positioning. Really analyzing your business for customer base and their profiles, how you stand out in the marketplace, how you are perceived, who is your competition and what are they offering?
Part of your assessment of your supply chain needs to include determining if they know who they are and where they are going? Just as important is if their short term actions and planning reflect that vision with conviction. If they are about high automation and volume yet have some interspersed low volume programs the question is why? If they are about low volume high mix, why are there some high volume programs going on?
Identifying who you are and what you are about is integral in being able to deliver on what you have promised your customer. Often times it is hard for a business to say no to revenue, even if it runs contrary to your core business plan.
The more critical a supplier is to you, the more important that they know that and you both are marching to the same beat.
To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man. William Shakespeare
Other articles you might like:
Lean – Talk about needing a revamped title
When you may not get what you paid for
Process innovation and implementation – how to know what services to offer